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In a harrowing tale emerging from eastern France, a 9-year-old boy has been rescued after enduring life in captivity within his father’s utility van since 2024. Authorities reported that the child has been hospitalized, while his father has been taken into custody.
The disturbing situation came to light when a neighbor reported hearing “sounds of a child” emanating from the vehicle on a Monday in the village of Hagenbach. This community is situated near the borders of Switzerland and Germany. The local prosecutor, Nicolas Heitz, detailed these events in a statement released on Saturday.
Upon forcibly opening the van, police officers discovered the boy in dire conditions: he was lying in a fetal position, unclothed, and covered only by a blanket amidst a pile of trash and near excrement. Heitz described the boy as severely malnourished and unable to walk due to prolonged confinement in a seated position.
Under questioning, the boy’s father claimed he had confined the child in November 2024 to shield him from being sent to a psychiatric hospital by his partner, who had allegedly wanted to institutionalize him when he was just 7 years old.
Contrary to the father’s assertions, Heitz noted that there was no medical evidence suggesting the boy had any psychiatric issues before his disappearance. On the contrary, he had been performing well academically, achieving good grades at school.
The boy told investigators that he had “big difficulties” with his father’s partner and thought his father “had no choice” but to lock him up, according to the prosecutor. He said he hadn’t showered since 2024.
The father was handed preliminary kidnapping and other charges and kept in custody. His partner denied knowledge that the boy was in the van, according to the prosecutor. She was handed preliminary charges, including for failure to help a minor in danger, and released under judicial supervision.
The boy’s 12-year-old sister and the 10-year-old daughter of his father’s partner were placed in the care of social services.
The prosecutor’s office is investigating whether others were aware of the boy’s detention.
Friends and family told investigators they thought the boy was in a psychiatric institution. His teachers were told he had transferred to a different school, according to the prosecutor’s office.
The authorities have not released the names of the victim or his relatives.
Hagenbach residents contacted by The Associated Press expressed shock on Saturday over the cases and said they were unaware of the boy’s whereabouts, but didn’t want to discuss details.
The prosecutor declined to comment further to AP pending further investigation.